Page 3 of Talk About… Rivalry

Maverick would have never done this to me. My eyes burned at the thought and I swallowed hard.

The waiter came back before the pity party could go into full swing.

“Here you go,” he said, sitting a large paper bag on the table. He had the check in hand and I put my card in it. He was off again and I was left sitting there, more than one person staring since this was fresh gossip.

An omega left with the bill, a pack running after a scent match, this was honestly the dating nightmare we all worried would happen before finding a pack.

I gave the waiter a generous tip and hurried out the moment he came back, glad I had chocolate and sweets to drown my sorrows when I got home.

Though, the last place I wanted to go was home, but I wasn’t ready to face anyone just yet.

Except maybe Avery, who had been texting me all night.

The drive back to Rockwood Valley was long and dark, but I blasted music until my mind was numb. When I parked in front of the small cabin that I called home, I hurried inside just in case and locked the door behind me.

A small meow greeted me and I scooped up my former barn cat, Sully, and gave him kisses. “Don’t worry, it’s still just us.”

He gave a small meow in response, nose twitching as he tried to see what I brought. Though, it was nothing for him.

He’d likely snuck out the cat door and ate with the other cats like usual, he just never turned down treats.

“Sorry, Sull, this is mine,” I said as I put him down and dropped my bags on the table. After putting on comfy clothes I opened up my chocolate lava cake and grabbed my phone, going through the messages from Avery.

Avery: How is the date?

Avery: Should I take silence as a good thing?

Avery: Your outfit was on point, I know they’re going to fold the moment they see you

A few more tacked on then there was maybe thirty minutes of silence before she sent a new flurry.

Avery: Okay, I’m getting a bad feeling but you haven’t sent an SOS

Avery: I could call you and save you?

Avery: I knew I should have dressed in disguise and sat near you just in case.

I took pity on her, not wanting to leave her hanging all night, but I certainly wasn’t going into detail right now. I’d had enough of that awful encounter for the evening. I just wanted to enjoy my dessert.

Sidney: It was awful. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow because this is a conversation where I need to see your reactions face to face.

Avery: Tomorrow night, Whitaker Brews

Sidney: I’ll be there

As I devoured the chocolatey goodness, I couldn’t stop letting my mind circle back to Taylor and Maverick like it always did.

Men I wanted more than anything but couldn’t have. Fuck, why did life have to be so complicated?

Sidney

“Sidney!” My dad’s barked order was so loud it startled me. The hay bale I was about to toss slipped from my fingers, and I stumbled backward, nearly plummeting to my death if Dad hadn’t put up the railing years ago... after the first time I fell.

Some things never changed. I would always be a hot mess, and Dad would always be a grumpy alpha who couldn’t put his emotions into words if he tried.

“Dammit, kid,” he grumbled as he trudged up the ladder. Everything Dad said sounded angry, but growing up with him, I knew that was just how he was.

Everything about my dad was rugged and rough around the edges. His skin was tanned and weathered from being in the sun all day. He always had dirt covering his boots and jeans—sometimes even his shirts. He tended to the horses and the pasture most days, so he was rarely inside.

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